Electric belt



(No Model.) 'S. B.'JENKS.'

ELECTRIC BELT.

Patented Aug. 9, 1881.

WITNESSES Mf/ s is provided with a few apertures (shown at a (t UNITED STATES *A'rnivr rarer-i6 SAMUEL B. JENKS, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

ELECTRIC BELT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 245,503, dated August 9, 1881.

Application filed April 29, 1881.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL B. JENKs, of Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State ofMichigamhave invented a new andImproved Electric Belt, of which the following is a clear, full, and exact description.

The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved electric belt for medical or therapeutical purposes.

The particular features of the invention will first be described in connection with the drawings, and then pointed out in the claims.

The invention consists in an electrode for an electric belt, consisting of a sponge fastened in a cup-shaped button on the belt.

The invention further consists in a link or element of an electric chain formed of a single or double strip of metal connected with a strip of metal of opposite electrical action of the preceding or succeding link, and surrounded by a layer of cloth or other fabric, and perforated metal having opposite electrical action.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an outside view of my improved electric belt. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail view ofapairof links,joints being shown in section. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional elevation of one of the links. Fig. 5isa perspective view of one of the sliding electrodes and its frame. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional elevation of the improved sponge electrode.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The electric chain A is formed of a series of connected links or elements, (couples,) B, which are contained within a covering, 0, of waterproof material, such as india-rubber, oiled silk, 850. This covering 0 is open at the ends, and

in dotted lines in Fig. 1) to admit the excitingliquid of the couple. The ends only of this chain are connected with the belt D, made of cloth, webbing, leather, 850., and provided with abuckle, E, or other devices for closing it. If the electric chain is attached to the belt in the manner described, the chain can be immersed in the exciting-liquid without moistenin g the belt.

The water-proof covering retains the (No model.)

moisture on the couples and protects the skin and clothing of the wearer. One end of the belt is connected with the positive-electrode button P by means of a strip of metal, F, and the other end of the chain is connected with the negative electrode button N by a metal strip, F. The electrodes are attached to two wires, G, passing around the belt 1) and around the strip F or F, so that these electrode-buttons can be adj ted on the belt D, but will always be in electrical connection with the chain A.

If a person cannot hear a powerful electric current on the skin, the electrode shown in Fig. 6 must be used. It consists of a small sponge, H, attached to a sliding cup-shaped button, J, this sponge being moistened with water or some other suitable liquid. The couples of the chain are formed of a strip, 70, of metal, either single or double, surrounded by a layer, E, of cloth, webbing, &c., outside of this by a layer of perforated metal, M, having the opposite electrical action of the inner metal, K. If the inner strip of metal, K,is double, a layer, 0, of cloth, webbing, &c., is placed between its two portions, all these layers of cloth, webbing, 850., being used to retain the exciting-liquid. The inner plate of one cell or couple is connected with the outer perforated plate of the next cell or couple by a conducting-wire loop, B. As the outer layer of metal is perforated, the exciting-liquid can pass through the same very easily.

I am aware that it is not new in electric belts to use a waterproof covering to attach the battery at the ends to the webbing and to change the distance between the electrodes; but my construction allows the battery to be dropped into the exciting-liquid while the webbing is held up and away, so that by simply wiping off the water-proof covering of the battery and extending the webbing the belt is ready for use. This is an important advantage. By enveloping the inside metal with the webbing I secure a better electrical action than can be otherwise had.

Having thus described all that is necessary to a full understanding of the invention, what I claim as new is--- 1. In electric belts, the chain A, formed. of 2. The electrodes NP,attached to two Wires, links B and water-proof cover G, the latter Gr, passing around the belt D, and strips F F, open at the ends and at the points a, in cornas and for the purpose specified.

bin-ation with a cloth belt, D, connected with SAMUEL BUSHNELL JENKS. 5 the ends of said chain by conductors R, and l WVitnesses:

with the electrodes N P by metallic strips F I E. H. HUNT,

F, as shown and described. 1 OTIS H. BABOOCK. 

